…we will ensure fairness to all APC aspirants
In a bid to foster political stability and ensure effective governance in Ondo State, political leaders and stakeholders have inaugurated the “Asiwaju Mandate Group” (AMG) during a mega press conference held on Monday, in Akure.
The Director General, Evangelist Olumuyiwa Asagunla, said the group, which is being backed by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, aims to stabilize the political atmosphere within the State and provide a common platform for all aspirants within the ruling APC fold ahead of the 2024 governorship election. He emphasized the group’s commitment to ensuring the election of the best candidate out of the aspirants capable of driving sustainable development and maximizing federal support under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“AMG is not formed to promote any governorship aspirant but to ensure Ondo State gets the Governor who will engender sustainable development and improve the lives of the people of the State, and especially be able to draw benefit maximally for the State from the Federal Government under Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. We are also confident in the leadership and ability of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC National leadership to douse political tension ahead of the governorship election.” Evangelist Asagunla emphasized.
Corroborating the DG, the Commissioner representing Ondo State in the NDDC board, Mr Otito Atikase said the group would support and work for whichever aspirant picks the APC governorship ticket during the April primary.
With notable political figures present, including Mr Atikase and other big political gladiators from across the 18 Local Government Areas of the State, the AMG vowed to promote fairness, inclusivity, and democracy in the State’s political landscape, urging all indigenes and residents to join their movement towards a prosperous future for Ondo State.
The text of the address by the Director General of the group, Evangelist Olumuyiwa Asagunla, reads;
“It is with a heart filled with joy and elated mind that I welcome you all to this hall for the official unveiling of a political pressure group named ASIWAJU MANDATE GROUP.
“Following the trajectory of the political instability in Ondo State in the last two years and also putting in mind the strategic place of Ondo State not only in the South West region of the country but the Nation, in General deriving strength from the record of highest vote turned over for President Bola Hammed Tinubu in the last presidential election and what pace Ondo state sets in the off-season elections in the country.
“Critical stakeholders in the politics and polity of Ondo State have come together to birth a new political group with the goal and aim of stabilizing the political space and finding a common ground for victory without bias to any aspirant within the APC fold ahead of the Ondo State Gubernatorial election in the immediate and creating a solid platform for a better turn out of votes for President Bola Hammed Tinubu in his second term bid.
“While we are appreciative of the good positioning of Ondo State in the scheme of things at the Federal level with two of our illustrious sons as Ministers and several other political portfolios, we believe we can bring about more dividends of democracy to the people of the state having suffered some setback in the last few years occasioned by instability of governance in the state.
“We believe that politics and elections in Ondo state substantially dictate the direction of things in the general elections in the country and hence the need to have a formidable and pro-people governor and government come November when the Ondo State Gubernatorial election will hold.
“As a group, We will be more confident and self-reliant in cultivating the features of sincere political diplomacy. Our state’s development and rejuvenation will always be based on our own efforts, and the future of the people of the state will always be in our own hands.
“We will remain firm in pursuing the independent campaign of peace, and resolutely safeguard the sovereignty of the state from hijackers toward a more robust national dignity.
“As we birth this group, We will be open and inclusive and conduct consultations with a broad vision. We will consolidate and expand our collective network of partnerships, promote a new type of communal relations, and promote mutual respect and mutual learning between civilizations and development, between the government and the governed.
“We will strive for stability in the state, pursue common progress with all indigenous and residents of the state, and rejuvenate with fellow progressives in the South West of the Country for a start.
“The group will uphold fairness and justice in the countdown to the political party’s primaries and further establish the ethos of Collectiveness. We will practice true multilateralism, and promote greater democracy in relations.
“We will be more unequivocal on issues of principle concerning the legitimate rights and interests of the people of Ondo State primarily and Nationally.
“The group shall in the coming weeks be inaugurating our members and leaders across all the political wards in the state and the local governments. The membership drive is ongoing through forms made available already to all the units and wards across all the local governments in the state.
“Also, in the course of time, we shall be having the official launch of the group, one that will be massive and witnessed by the top echelon of the APC including the visioneer of this group, Hon. OLUBUNMI OJO, the Minister of Interior, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Towards this end, we call on all Ondo state indigenes and dwellers to join us as we march to a new Ondo State in the immediate and a progressive nation in the long run.”